A national sweetener recall turned serious after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Class II risk warning attributed to a mislabeling mix-up.
On July 14, Oregon-based NuNaturals, Inc. voluntarily recalled certain lots of its Organic Pure Stevia and Pure Monk Fruit Sweetener from store shelves. Barely months later, on August 1, the FDA affirmed the recall’s designation, classifying it as the second-highest risk level under its three-tier system.
For those curious why this is important, a Class II risk indicates the product may lead to temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, although the likelihood of severe effects is remote. Nevertheless, for individuals who are allergic to various plants or sweeteners, the threat exists. Stevia allergy may impact ragweed and associated plant-sensitive individuals, while monk fruit reactions, albeit rare, may occur. Symptoms can vary from light rashes and swelling of the lips to extreme anaphylaxis that can result in life-threatening breathing complications.
The problem arises due to a unfortunate mislabeling. The bottles retailed as Pure Monk Fruit Sweetener were actually filled with stevia powder, whereas the bottles identified as Organic Pure Stevia were filled with monk fruit. Both were shipped nationally to wholesalers and consumers in small plastic bottles with white caps, 0.71oz or 1oz sizes, bearing the best-by date of April 2028 and lot number 25104S. A total of 78 bottles of each product are impacted, both bearing identical UPC codes: 7 39223 00187 6 for the monk fruit labeling and 7 39223 00204 0 for the stevia label.
The FDA emphasizes that individuals who have food allergies need to read food labels closely and steer clear of allergens at all times. In U.S. law, companies are required to mark visibly any significant food allergen on their labels. Recalls such as this occur when tainted or mislabeled products are found or foods pose an immediate health risk. This recall is not associated with contamination or outbreaks of illnesses but continues to be ongoing.
NuNaturals has not issued a full public statement yet, although it has been approached by the media, including Newsweek. In the meantime, the FDA advisory is consistent, if you are sensitive to stevia, ragweed, or monk fruit, steer clear of the tainted products altogether.
This is another warning that even the most innocuous pantry staples can become dangerous when label errors happen. Until the recall is over, consumers are asked to scan their shelves, see if they have the lot number 25104S, and discontinue using them if they belong to the batches being recalled. In the sweetener world, a bit of confusion can make for more than an unpleasant taste, it can be a health shock in the making.
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